Effectiveness of topical bupivacaine versus topical lidocaine/adrenaline mixture for post-adenotonsillectomy pain management

Abstract Background This study aims to compare the topical administration of bupivacaine hydrochloride and lidocaine hydrochloride with epinephrine in alleviating post-tonsillectomy pain. Post-tonsillectomy pain has remained a challenge to both patient and doctors, and local anaesthetic agents applied to the tonsillar fossae post-operatively look promising. Methods One hundred and twenty ASA I or II children aged 2–15 years of consenting parents undergoing adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy were enrolled in the study. This was a randomized double-blind study in which the children were allocated into either of two groups to receive 5 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine or equal volume of lidocaine plus 1:200,000 adrenaline-soaked swab applied directly on the tonsillar floor within the fossae and/or nasopharynx after haemostasis was secured for 5 min before discontinuation of anaesthesia. Results Patients in the bupivacaine group had better extubating condition ( p = 0.0001). There was no difference in the time to eye opening in both groups ( p -value 0.316). Patients in the lidocaine group had a time to first analgesic request between 1 and 6 h, whereas in the bupivacaine group, about 25 patients (44% of the group) had a time to first analgesic request that exceeded 6 h (6–10 h). The only complication recorded in both groups following oral feeds was vomiting, and there was no difference in both groups ( p = 0.968). Overall parental satisfaction was better with bupivacaine group ( p = 0.00001). Conclusion Topical application of bupivacaine was associated with better extubation conditions and parental satisfaction when compared to topical lidocaine plus adrenaline while both demonstrated similar time to eye opening, analgesic request, haemodynamic parameters and incidence of complications.